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Title: Griffin’s Castle
Written by: Jenny Nimmo
Hardback: 278 pages
Ages: 12 and up
Publisher: Orchard Books
ISBN: 978-0-439-02554-6
Publication: November 2007

Twelve-year old Dinah is desperate to find a place to call her own home. Even though her mother Rosalie loves her, taking care of a child is beyond Rosalie’s capabilities. Dinah, wise beyond her years, attempts to make their latest dwelling, a run down mansion, much more than a dump.

While longing to belong and to be taken care of, Dinah finds herself magically thrown into the midst of stone animals that come to life to protect her. Before it’s too late Dinah must realize the stone animals want to entrap her.

“Dinah knew then that she was their prisoner and would never reach the gate where the vulture waited. There was only one way out. ‘I shall fly,’ she announced. ‘You’ll see.’”

Award-winning author, Jenny Nimmo combines the here and now with a fantasy aspect that will surely draw the reader in from the onset. Visit Jenny Nimmo at www.jennynimmo.com to learn more about her and her acclaimed Charlie Bone Series.

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Reviewed by Donna M. McDine, middle grade novel reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Yesterday I attended a local children’s writers’ conference sponsored by the Kansas Chapter of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s book Writers and Illustrators). It was a wonderful conference with an impressive lineup of speakers - including successful children’s authors, agents, and editors. The presentations were excellent and they reminded me that one of the best ways to learn about children’s writing and publishing is from those who are already successful writers, illustrators, editors, and/or publishers.

Every month, members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club are provided with many chances to listen, learn, and interact with successful children’s authors and/or illustrators.

Last week, children’s illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba was our guest for this month’s teleclass with a children’s illustrator.

Dulemba shared her secrets of success with our club members. And, even those who aren’t illustrators, learned a lot about the way a children’s picture book is created through this teleclass called The Nuts and Bolts of Children’s Book Illustration with Elizabeth O. Dulemba. Visit Dulemba’s website to view some of her amazing children’s book illustrations.

This week, our monthly teleclass with a children’s author will feature children’s educator and author Maureen McQuerry.

McQuerry’s poetry has been published in many journals including: Smartish Pace , The Atlanta Review, Southern Review, North American Review and Nimrod. It can also be found in the anthologies Margins, Pontoon 8 and The Washington Poetry Association collection Tattoos on Cedar. Recently McQuerry won the New Eden Chapbook Competition for her collection Wingward.

In her role as a teacher, McQuerry was appointed the McAuliffe Fellow for WA State in 2000 and that fellowship gave her time to write two non-fiction books, Student Inquiry, and Nuclear Legacy. Nuclear Legacy was written with a class of 8th grade students who all became published authors. The book took McQuerry to Chernobyl, Ukraine to look at how lives were impacted by the world’s largest nuclear disaster. McQuerry’s family spent one summer working in the United Arab Emirates, and another traveling through France and England.

McQuerry’s first YA adult novel, Wolfproof, started with one of the characters in a poem she wrote. The poem “Greenman” was based on carvings of foliate heads found in old churches throughout the British Isles. Eventually the greenman character from the poem worked his way into the story Wolfproof. And if you’re wondering about the title Wolfproof, well, it came from a poem too! The sequel to WP should be out next year.

Every month, members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club are given the opportunity to attend two LIVE teleclasses like these. Members also receive a CD of each recorded event, so they can listen and learn from that month’s featured children’s author and that month’s featured children’s illustrator whenever they want.

In addition, club members are invited to weekly manuscript critique telesessions, and receive a monthly membership packet with other helpful materials for children’s writers and illustrators.

Best of all - the first month’s membership in the club is FREE - so anyone can try it out for a month to decide if the club is right for them.

To try Level I membership in our club FREE for one month - and receive CDs of both of these exciting teleclasses this month - click on the link in the right sidebar of this page. You won’t be billed a thing for 30 days. If you decide the club is not right for you before then, simply let us know and we will cancel your membership.

Join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club today and start learning from the best. You’ve got nothing to lose - and everything to gain!

Have a great day!

Suzanne Lieurance
Founder, Director, and Coaching Coordinator
The National Writing for Children Center
Home of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club